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Greetings all,

I'm not sure where it comes from but there's a sadistic urge in me to acquire either an original, unmodified Longchamp or Deauville - preferably in a period seventies shade.

The Oldtimer Garage in Bern, Switzerland - http://www.oldtimergarage.com and look under Stocklist - have been offering a gold '81 Longchamp for a couple of months now. Before I make any further enquiries, can any of you provide me with useful insights as to the history and correctness of this particular car???

Best,

Ben Tyer
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Ben,

If you fancy a Longchamp but are not necessarily worried about having a car with bullet proof provenance have a look at this.

I gather the boot has ‘Made in Poland’ inside it and the rear bumper bars came off a Wartburg or something similar!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/55796.htm

I gather the car has a fair bit of filler around the back of it (don’t they all) but she has just had a mechanical overhaul and runs pretty well from what I have been told.

Those wheels would have to go!

You may have seen the simply fantastic looking Longchamp GTSE which is for sale which I am busily trying to scrape the loot together for. If you’re a member of the DTDC you will I would guess have already seen her in the most recent club magazine. It would already been in my garage were it not for the current Deauville restoration!
Hi Franz,

It doesn't look like a late-model Longchamp to me either, I'll get on to Oldtimer and update you when I have some more news.

Rob,

Thanks for the lead on the right-hand drive example - what an interesting machine!!! I don't like to knock other peoples modifications but some of those alterations are truly eye-watering.

The GTSE in the latest DTDC magazine looks a cracking example - if it were gold, brown or olive green I'd definitely be interested.

Best,

BT
Jorg Streit from Oldtimer got back to me this morning with some interesting info and photographs. The chassis number is apparently THLCNK/02147, the engine is the original one, its number is 351/1099 (stamped on the block and on the plate). There's no service history, 1981 was the year it was first registered in Switzerland. The car does come with the owners manual and what looks like a complete toolkit. The car currently shows just over 3000km, so it's probably done just over 103,000km (around 65k miles). I would class the car as in good driving condition - it could do with the engine etc. being taken out for an overhaul and detailing.

Best,

BT
Hi to all De Tomaso fans. I,m new to forum as a groupee. I don't actually own a De Tomaso yet but thats just a matter of time (money too?)
I do own a Porsche 924 turbo which is a lot of fun as well.
Getting back on the Swiss Longchamp. I have a list of all De Tomaso's delivered new to Holland and this gives a pretty good idea on when the car was build. Chassis 02089/engine 1045 was first registered on 02-05-1975 and the next one up is 02217/engine 1116 was first registered on 17-03-1976. Considering that most Dutch cars were build to order I think it is safe to say that 02147 was build somewere around late 1975.
Hi Ben

I have been compiling a registry of Longchamps and the years around 2147 range from 1972 to 1976, this is most likely a 1975 car.

If you buy a Longchamp you will really enjoy it.

Dutchie, do you have any additional information on the 2 cars from Holland? Like the color, full serial number, current/past owners, it would help me fill out the registry.

Scott
Hi Guys,

Dutchie - thanks for the information. Incidentally, who was the Dutch importer / concessionaire for De Tomaso and roughly how many cars did they import? Make sure you don't lose those records!!!

Scott - having seen Rick Lee's gorgeous example on the thread started by Franz, I think a dark Spyder and preferably a GTSE is the only one for me.

Best,

Ben Tyer
Hi Scott,

I do have an almost complete list of all 19 Longchamps which were delivered new to Holland. I'll see if I can make a file which I will post as an attachment. Do you just want the Longchamp or do you want Deauville and Pantera as well? The total number of Deauville's is 38 and pantera's about 15. Most are complete with vin/engine# exterior/interior colours and first owner. On some cars we have a current owner.

Let me know what you need.
Hi Ben,

The only importer/dealer for Holland was Hessing who also did Rolls Royce/Bentley, Maserati, Ford USA and Lamborghini. They did all the imports from 1973 right through to the mid 90's although they sold their last cars in the early 90's, which were 2 black Pantera SI.
I know one of those is still with the first owner who also is a first owner of a late seventies Deauville. Anyway, I could fill a couple of pages with stats and stories but I will create some sort of fille.

Martin, do you think that it will be interesting for others to see or should I just shoot off a list to you..

Let me know what you think
Hi Guys,

It seems interest in compiling a record of De Tomaso cars is growing. I think it would be great to get a thread going on production details of the individual models i.e. one for the Longchamp, another for the Vallelunga, Deauville, Guara, single seaters etc.

If this could (where possible) include details like chassis numbers, engine numbers, year of manufacture, colours, special features, first and subsequent owners etc. that would be a good starting point. A public thread would allow other De Tomaso enthusiasts to contribute details for individual/multiple cars on an as-and-when basis which IMHO is vital to piecing together as much over time as possible.

Clearly though this would be a logisitical nightmare for volume models like the stock Pantera that were manufactured in thousands rather than hundreds.

I'll get things started with what I've compiled on the Formula 1 and 2 single seaters if anyone else thinks it's a good idea.

Best,

Ben Tyer
Ben (and others)

I can only think of good things that will happen from compiling a registry. One problem I see is that there are a half-dozen such efforts underway, and information isn't always shared among parties. I think that the registries are almost exclusively Pantera-based, however, so there just may be a need for a Longchamps, Deauville, F2, F3, etc registry.

I may be telling you things you already know, but the most complete registry to date was published by Bill Milburn. I don't think it included any models other than the Pantera, however.

POCA has talked about spearheading an effort to make a registry but I don't think it has gotten very far. I think someone just needs to decide to invest the time, and then search the Internet high and low to see who has started what to save effort. I don't remember where I've seen the various efforts, but they are out there...

It would be great reading...
Hi Charlie,

Thanks for your response. You're right, there are several De Tomaso registries being compiled. IMHO the biggest problem with these is that they're largely private databases that don't seem to benefit the wider De Tomaso community.

An open discussion on production numbers, individual chassis records et al that anyone can access/contribute/dispute 24/7 would seem a far better proposition. From my perspective I (like I'm sure most of you) have often come across interesting nuggets of information about specific cars but have not divulged the information to any of the individuals compiling private registries. Why? Because there's so many of these private registries. It's time consuming to e-mail half a dozen different people and in the end, who really benefits? Only the person running it. Smiler

Would I have publicised my findings on this forum as part of a thread on the production figures/individual histories for that specific De Tomaso model? Probably as it would take only moments and subsequntly allow other enthusiass to chip in with their two cents worth.

Best,

BT
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